Fifty Plus (50+) - 2006 Ride Your Age on Your Birthday Challenge

Here's our 2006 Birthday Ride Challenge thread

The goal is to ride your age to celebrate your birthday. It doesn't have to be on your actual birthday... just sometime during 2006. Be sure to let us know how it went and post pictures!!

I'm committed to 66 miles this year, and may try to do it sometime this spring when the temperature is cooler rather than wait for Labor Day weekend like last year, where the temperature and humidity was in the 90's in Southwest Florida.

Good luck to everyone and we look forward to reading about your rides!

Lookinup
(Who will be 66 this year and still thinks and acts like she is 27!)

Can it be our metric age? Or our age in dog-years? :D

I'm in! But since my birthday is next Dec. 31st, (I'll turn 68 then), I've got all year to get ready to meet the challenge. Since I did a 67 mile ride for my recent birthday, my goal for this year will be to do 68 miles on a more challenging route (hills!) than my 2005 route, which was on a relatively flat bikepath.

I'm pumped!

Already did it on the 20th! Rode 60 miles. 'Twas an excellent ride other than about 30 miles of constant 5 mph headwinds. No aches or pains other than occasionally around the back of the neck for holding my head up for so long.

I was glad when it was over but the good news is I felt like I could've kept going.

Because it was my birthday I ended up staying up till 1:30am celebrating with friends so it was a very long day. I slept good and still woke up same time as always. Not sore either!

Top speed, 35.7mpg, avg speed over distance 13+mph. Time moving, 4 hrs 37 mins. Total distance covered, 60.1 miles.

Sorry no pics, too busy riding, haha. :)

My suggestion is, don't try it unless you've ridden a few times 66% of your age miles (ie. if you're 60 do some 40 mile rides before doing a 60.).

Oh yeah, have fun!

..rickko..
(One of the 1st of the babyboomer generation)

I'm in! I'll also ride my wife, Linda's age on her birthday too. We both did that last year and it was a hoot. I'll try to take pics this year.

Steve

Mine's next week and my son-in-law says he'll go along to keep me company. My only concern--does that mean he gets to stop at 35 miles while I have to keep going to 64??? I'll try to get pics.

Tim

This year I will be 52 and my birthday will be on a Sunday. My typical Sunday morning ride is ~70 miles and I leave well before anyone other than me and the family dog are awake so no big deal here. I have been thinking about a double birthday ride (2*52=104 miles), but I think that my family might not want me to be gone for that long. They have gotten used to me getting home and making brunch on Sunday. Perhaps I might add a few extra miles and do a 1.5*age ride of 78 miles.

I turn 55 on Easter this year so I guess after eating my chocolate easter bunny I'll have to go out and ride 55 miles to work off the calories, and instead of bringing a power bar or gel pack I'll just bring along a bunch of marshmellow peeps to keep me going.

I rode my 1960 age the other day, 8 miles. Only had half an hour to work with. I plan to gradually work my way thru the sixtys and seventys to ride my age sometime this spring. And since I probably won't make 100 I'm planning to get that "Ride Your Age" ride done in June. If I do make 100 it will be one less thing to do on that busy day.

I turn 55 on Easter this year so I guess after eating my chocolate easter bunny I'll have to go out and ride 55 miles to work off the calories, and instead of bringing a power bar or gel pack I'll just bring along a bunch of marshmellow peeps to keep me going.
I just love those marshmellow peeps. I'm 57 maybe it is an age thing.

Mine's next week and my son-in-law says he'll go along to keep me company. My only concern--does that mean he gets to stop at 35 miles while I have to keep going to 64??? I'll try to get pics.

Tim
If he's that young- he has to do double, but that means that you will have to do an extra 6 to make certain he doesn't cheat.

Maybe I can convince my son for a father-and-son-ride (51+25=76), which could lead us to Heidelberg city and the Neckar valley down to Eberbach and back over the hills just right in time, when my friends use to come for a birthday party.
marmotte

How near to your birthday?? My birthday was 2 weks ago and North Dakota Januarys are NOT compatible with bicycle riding. I can't ride the trainer due to recent surgery and 60 miles on the trainer would be brutal. Does it count if I go the distance in May or June?

Yeah, lookinup; you Floridians and us Californians don't really have an "off" season--I just got back from a 20 miler wearing shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. How about making the challenge to "celebrate" one's birthday, rather than "on or near" one's birthday?

I wouldn't wish riding 60 miles on a trainer on anybody!

Yeah, lookinup; you Floridians and us Californians don't really have an "off" season--I just got back from a 20 miler wearing shorts and a short-sleeved jersey. How about making the challenge to "celebrate" one's birthday, rather than "on or near" one's birthday?

I wouldn't wish riding 60 miles on a trainer on anybody!

How about going someplace nice on your birthday and getting a ride in if you live up North and have a birthday in the winter? Or you might pay some of us people that live down South to do the ride for you. :D

How about making the challenge to "celebrate" one's birthday, rather than "on or near" one's birthday?


Good idea, thanks! I've changed the text. Also added that the ride didn't have to be on your actual birthday, just sometime during 2006.

Well that is going to be quite a challenge for me. On December the 23rd I fell of a ladder and broke my left leg just below the knee in forty places. My birthday is in April and I am not expecting to be able to even ride a bike by then, I am told my recovery may take as long as a year. However I am beginning to feel good and my leg is begging me to try and walk and I hope that in the next couple of weeks I am given the go ahead to put some weight on it and hopefully in a few more weeks I can get on my trainer.
I am confident that I can be cycling a lot sooner than I am expected to be able to do. I have signed up to do the MS 150 in South Carolina. I am hoping that I am able to get back on the bike soon enought to be able to build my leg muscles back up for this tour. Right now that have shrunk up like a prune.

I done this bike tour for the last two years and it has averages 170 miles long in two days this tour takes. So if I am able to participate in this charity ride next September then I will have done more miles than my age which will 64. Last year I rode a total of 6,500 miles but will fall for short of this for this year. Next year if God is willing I hope to do a cross country tour or at least tour the oregon Trail which will be approximately 2500 miles long I believe.
Douglas

Ouch!!! That sounds horrible sandlapper. Take it conservatively. It would be great to have you in the saddle again, but you don't want to push that severe an injury.

Best to you and hoping for a rapid recovery.

Sign me up for this year!!
Sometime in July, my birthday is on a Monday so probably not that day.
I'm looking forward to it.

I rode my age today--my Beatle birthday and am glad I did. It was a most interesting trip. I live in Washington, DC but am visiting my daughter and her husband (and granddaughter) in Columbia, Mo. When my birthday came up, it was a perfect opportunity to take a ride on the famous Katy Trail. It was an okay day--5 degrees warmer and 15 mph less wind would have made it perfect. The ride was from Columbia to Boonville and back (69.5 miles altogether). A couple of shots include Katy landmarks--Katfish Katys, Rocheport, the train tunnel, and of course some excellent views of the Mighty Mo.

Trip started out well enough and I was making good time--until I got west of the tunnel. There the surface got very loose and sandy, almost like a beach and with a 12-15 mph headwind my speedometer dropped to 8.5 and I was wondering if I would make it or not. Finally, I decided to leave the trail and head over to U.S. 40 where my speed picked up to about 15 and I felt like I was getting somewhere.

The bridge to Boonsvile crosses the Missouri and has a dedicated bike path which the Katy follows. You get a great view of the old railroad bridge and another nice view of the Missouri. In case you try this trip, forget about Monday. Most of the restaurants in town are closed on Monday and I ended up with a bad cheeseburger at a Dairy Queen--but, hey, calories are calories, right?

Given my experience with the trail, I elected to ride all the way back to Rocheport on U.S. 40 (12 miles or so) and am happy to report that the traffic was light and drivers were careful and polite. Not a single honk and many waves--don't you love the Midwest?

Returned to daughter's house in time for 64th birthday party which included many goodies for bike repair and riding. I think I'll take a shorter ride tomorrow.

Tim

I rode my age today--my Beatle birthday and am glad I did.
Tim
Contratulations, Tim! Great story... great pictures. I'm envious - want to ride the Katy Trail one of these days!

I rode my age today--my Beatle birthday and am glad I did.

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a great trip.

Hey, I'm 56 and I try to get in 4 or 5 centuries each year. You folks can do it to, just change your priorities and log more time in the saddle, the miles will come easier when you ride in a group.
I get a kick out of telling people my age after they have 'sucked my rear wheel' for about 30 miles.

Count me in. I have a tradition of riding my age in miles on my birthday. I even had a few buddies go with me and we would do the same on theirs. I did 90 miles last Sunday but no pictures, does it count anyway? :)

TLC20010- Tha's a terrific ride report. Beautiful shots of the Mighty Mo and I have got to agree, that was a nasty looking burger.
Congrats!!

Ok, my birthday isn't until October, but I got in my birthday miles + 1. Can I count the extra mile as a credit towards next year??? What about if I do my birthday miles again before my birthday--do I get a cake??? :D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v338/Litespeed/Misc/Feb-10-2006-mileage.jpg

Yeah, I had the same thought. I rode 68 miles, as it turned out, to celebrate turning 67. Said my wife: "Good! Now you need only ride 67 miles when you turn 68." I told her that DnvrFox and the others would never let me get away with it. So I haven't even suggested it in this forum. I applaud your courage, though!

My 49th birthday is tomorrow, and I am not a winter rider. I have already signed up for a metric century in June... That will give me 62 miles. I plan on riding twice my age for the first time since my teens this year as well by doing an imperial century before the year ends.

And I will also cpmplete 2006+ miles (my highest when I kept track in 2004 was about 900... For now I am counting trainer and exercycle miles... As I get time on the road I hope to make 2006 on the road. I will pretty much have to in order to be successful in doing an imperial century.

I still have 3 months till my 50th but i started training for 50miles in october. I have two crushed vertebrae and a gimp leg with my left ankle fused. Today i got up and planned to try and get 30 miles in as part of training. But weather was so nice in the sacramento area that before i knew it I managed 55 miles. My longest before this was about 34. So I beat my goal of 50 by 50 already.

Congratulations! With a your physical hurdles to overcome you have put to shame most people our age in your accomplishment.

I occasionally have knee or hip pain, so I am curious about whether you do anything specific if aches and pains trouble you during a ride. So far riding does nothing but help me during the ride, although I sometimes have minor stiffness the day after a long or hard ride.

Ok, my birthday isn't until October, but I got in my birthday miles + 1. Can I count the extra mile as a credit towards next year??? What about if I do my birthday miles again before my birthday--do I get a cake??? :D



Look at the Extra mile as part of your training and it will not count. Birthday cakes are only available at Irma's and that is only if you ride to collect it personally. (And pay for it 2 years in advance)

Well done on the ride, but you now have to do a 100 miler before your birthday, and you might as well do a few extra miles to make it a double birthday ride, to get fit enough for next years ride. That extra year makes it harder

Steelerfan. Stop putting us to shame- at This time of year all I want to do is get out on the bike and get home after a breakfast before I freeze up completely. Well done but change your birthday date to make it easier on the rest of us.

My 53rd b-day is in March. Already have a few rides in 06 longer than 53 miles so I'll try for double my age before March.

edit: I'll be doing it on a fixie.

My birthday is tuesday 14th, and i wont be able to ride that day. So 5 friends and i rode today and did 52.52 miles. Can you guess my age? ;)
The winter has been so mild here, i have 245 miles so far.
later,
Karl

Last year if anyone would have told me I could make 50 miles with my back and anke issues I would have told them about my back and said no way. During this year though i spent a month in a pain clinic learning to deal with the issues with my back and ankle. Pretty much they showed me the way to deal with my pain was to live through it and not let it stop me from physical activity. I still have to use the pain meds but I quit feeling guilty. What made me feel good yesterday is that my legs still felt strong and if the wife hadn't corraled me visit to Lake Tahoe I would have gone out to ride my 20 miles before having my coffee at starbucks. Right now i am riding a Giant Cypress Hybrid but I am working on the wife for a new birthday bike so i can try for more. Hard to decide what kind of ride though, i know my back wouldn't agree well with full road bike.

Last year if anyone would have told me I could make 50 miles with my back and anke issues I would have told them about my back and said no way. During this year though i spent a month in a pain clinic learning to deal with the issues with my back and ankle. Pretty much they showed me the way to deal with my pain was to live through it and not let it stop me from physical activity. I still have to use the pain meds but I quit feeling guilty. What made me feel good yesterday is that my legs still felt strong and if the wife hadn't corraled me visit to Lake Tahoe I would have gone out to ride my 20 miles before having my coffee at starbucks. Right now i am riding a Giant Cypress Hybrid but I am working on the wife for a new birthday bike so i can try for more. Hard to decide what kind of ride though, i know my back wouldn't agree well with full road bike.

steelerfan, do take a look at the Specialized Sequoia. They label it as a comfort bike, but it's much more of a road bike than anything else, with a very comfortable riding position and a suspension seat post. It's visually indistinguishable from a Specialized Roubaix, just not as racy, and almost as light. I find it light, nimble, and a delight to ride.

steelerfan, do take a look at the Specialized Sequoia. They label it as a comfort bike, but it's much more of a road bike than anything else, with a very comfortable riding position and a suspension seat post. It's visually indistinguishable from a Specialized Roubaix, just not as racy, and almost as light. I find it light, nimble, and a delight to ride.

2nd that. Amongst the good sport road riders of our generation- this is a bike that is getting marked as the standard that other bikes fail to meet.

How does the specialized Sequoia compare to the Giant fitness FCR2? The LBS shop I deal with doesn't carry Specialized, although there is another LBS in town that does. It's a real struggle to know what the next step up for a bike is for me. I started riding 10 years ago with a GT palomar that I eventually converted to more of a hybrid. Then I stopped riding. six months ago i started back with the Giant Cypress and I really like the riding position. However I already realize the front frame shock isn't something I need and I want better then Shimano Altus for rear derailuer. I am still to green on the essentials of buying my next level of bike. I plan to take a look at the Sequoia soon. I have 3 months before my actual 50 birthday and i need to really prep the wife.

And let me add that you might want to check out the Trek 7.6 which is what I'm dreaming of...

It's a road bike with flat bars, that's how I see it. Light, fast, nimble, comfortable, and even affordable (compared with some of the competition).

The winter has been so mild here, i have 245 miles so far.

Is that 245 miles just for February or the January & Feb. ?

Jan and Feb. together and thats my road miles, i didn't add in the mountain bike rides around 50 on it.
I'm just glad to be able to get out and put in the rides. The last snow just left a few flurries here, I'm glad i'm not out east.

karl

I turned 50 a couple of weeks ago (Jan 27th) and I'm delighted!! I have all my hair, everything is in great working order and I feel better than I did when I was 30 (I think so anyway, my memory is going a bit)...but I rode a Century in the Tour de Palm springs a couple of Day ago, so can I save 50 of those miles for my next Birthday?? :rolleyes:

My wife and I met the most amazing Guy at the event before the ride, he is 81 and was riding the Century also...so I figure I have 30 years left in the Saddle...and just look at it this way, the Kids are gone now we can afford to buy really really spendy Bikes...spoil ourselves for a change, I'll take the Six13 record for rainy day rides, something I can leave outside the Pub without worrying about , and the Colnago 50th Anniversary for Sundays!!...Saturdays?? hmmm..maybe a Seven and an Opera (one for the am, one for pm) thankyouverymuch!!...I think we deserve it, don't you???? Life is fantastic :D :D

LookinUp: Great idea! I will be 68 on June 4, and I am going to try it. But if I can get to 68 miles, I may try to go all the way for a century. How do you like your Fuji Touring? I am thinking of getting one. MY LBS says the FT is cheaper than the Trek 520, and a few hundred cheaper.

LookinUp: Great idea! I will be 68 on June 4, and I am going to try it. But if I can get to 68 miles, I may try to go all the way for a century. How do you like your Fuji Touring? I am thinking of getting one. MY LBS says the FT is cheaper than the Trek 520, and a few hundred cheaper.

trmcgeehan...

I like the Fuji Touring - it's stable, comfortable and gives a nice ride, but it's heavy (compared to my Orbea Onix :rolleyes: ). I had a Trek 520 years ago and loved it, but since the Orbea is my main bike, I couldn't justify the $$ for the Trek and I got the Fuji for $600 on Ebay - it was brand new and a dealer was reducing his inventory of 05's.

I think you'll like it, if that is the type of bike you're after. It seems to be well made and has all the braze-ons plus comes with a rear rack.

Lookinup